New Lokayukta only after SC direction: CM

Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda said on Saturday that the process to appoint a new Lokayukta would be initiated only after the Supreme Court gave clear directions as sought by the State government.

He was speaking to mediapersons at Shiggaon on Saturday, on his way to the inauguration of the Karnataka Folklore University at Gotagodi in Shiggaon taluk.

‘No hesitation’

Gowda said the government was not hesitating to appoint the Lokayukta.

“I had written to the Chief Justice of the High Court in this regard three months ago. In the backdrop of the High Court annulling the appointment of the Upa Lokayukta, there were some confusions with regard to the authority of the chief minister in the Lokayukta’s appointment.

A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking clarifications. The Supreme Court vacation has delayed the hearing of the matter. Once the vacation is over, the government will appeal to the Supreme Court to settle the matter at the earliest, considering it a special case,” the chief minister said.

The leaders of the Opposition party have already suggested the names of eligible persons. Once the appointment process begins, the names recommended by them will be considered, he said.

Drought report

As the onset of the monsoon has been delayed, more taluks will be affected by drought. The chief secretary is already on a tour of the State and will submit a report to the government on the drought situation within a week.
Based on the report, the government will declare more taluks drought hit, he said.